Activity Sheet 9 ANC Centenary 2012

Activity sheet 9 ANC centenary 2012

Key events 1970s – 1990s

This timeline shows some key events in South African history including: the high school student protests in the 1970s; the growth of a worldwide anti-apartheid movement in the 1980s and the release of Nelson Mandela and the birth of democracy in the 1990s. 1970s More than 3 million people are forced to resettle in black ‘homelands’.

1975 The liberation movements in South Africa’s neighbours Mozambique and Angola win independence from Portugal.

The Student uprising in Soweto, 16 June 1976. Police shoot hundreds of school students from Soweto who are protesting peacefully against being taught in the Afrikaans language. Governments and individuals around the world protest about the killings.

1977 The killing of Steve Biko, the head of the Black Consciousness Movement, who is murdered in police detention on 12 September.

1977 The UN Security Council imposes a mandatory arms ban against South Africa.

1977 Commonwealth countries sign the Gleneagles Agreement, which discourages all sporting contacts with South Africa.

1980 In a daring attack Umkhonto we Sizwe blows up the SASOL coal-from-oil installation.

1983 Thousands of organisations opposed to apartheid join the United Democratic Front (UDF). Millions of people mobilise across the country and disobey the apartheid laws to try and make South Africa ‘ungovernable’.

1984 Archbishop Desmond Tutu is awarded the Nobel Prize for Peace for his part in the non-violent campaign to end apartheid.

1986 In June a national state of emergency is declared which lasts until 1990. The government detains over 300,000 people, including many children, during this time.

1986 Some countries, such as the US, ban imports of South African products. UK and US companies, including Barclays Bank, withdraw from South Africa.

1987 South Africa is excluded from the first Rugby World Cup, because of its policy of ‘no mixed sport’.

1988 Invading South African troops are defeated by Angola, with Cuban support, in the battle of Cuito Cuanavale in southern Angola.

1990 Namibia, ruled by South Africa since 1919, wins its independence.

1990 The unbanning of the ANC and PAC, and release of Nelson Mandela from prison on 11 February after 27 years.

1994 The first democratic election is held on 27 April. The ANC wins 63 per cent of the vote. Nelson Mandela becomes president of the new South Africa.